Table-leg fastener.



No. 655.358. Patend Aug. 7, I900.

- s. m. SMYTH.

:IABLE LEG FASTENER. (Application filed May 14, 1900.) (No Model.)

Unwrap STATES PATENT Onrrcn.

SAMI'IQL ALXTAOLM SMY'lll, O l S'llLYlllROY, CANADA.

TABLE-LEG FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ZPatent No. 655,358, dated August '7, 1900.

Application filed May 14,1900.

To all Ill/L07 z'! nul concern.-

Lo it known ti it I, SAMUEL MALCOLM SMYTH, subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Strathroy, in the Province of.

Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Ta tile-Leg Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in table-leg fasteners.

'10 One object of the present invention is to and novel combination and arrangement 0t parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one corner of a table constructed in accordance with this invention, the leg being in position. Fig. 2 is a similar View, the leg being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the leg. 6 is a detail perspective view, partly in section, illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing another form of base. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a table having a rectangular block forming a base. Fig. 0 a do i perspective view oi a removable 5- Like an respondin :arts in all the figures of the draw- :tcs a tabletop provided with the ,nlar frame 2 and having a base t each of its corners for the re and the said base 3 may, l to at, inclusive, be

be utilized, or, shown in Figs.

t several pieces to enable waste- SerialNo.16,633. N0 model.)

7 and 8, it may consist of a single block. The base 3 is provided. with a keyhole-slot 5, having its enlarged portion of rectangular form and providing an opening for enabling a screw or threaded shank G and a nut 7 of a leg 8 to be interlocked with the base 3 by arranging the nut on the interior thereof. The base 3 is composed of a plate or piece 9 and a pair of blocks or pieces 10, interposed between the plate 0 and the top of the table and spaced apart to provide a groove 11 for the reception of the nut, and the said groove 11 is of the same width as the nut, so that the inner longitudinal edges of the blocks or pieces 10 will engage the adjacent edges of the nut and prevent the same from rotating. The nut is passed through the enlarged portion of the opening or keyhole-slot 5 and arranged within the groove 11, and the leg S is then moved inward to center it on the base 3 and to carry the threaded shank or screw 7 into the neck or narrow portion of the keyhole-slot or opening 5. The scrcwor threaded shank is provided with inner and outer screw-threads, the inner screw-thread 12 forming a wood-screw and engaging the ad jacent portion of the leg and the outer screwthread 13 engaging the threads of the nut. The base is prcferabl y provided at its center with a circular recess 14, forming the seat for a circular projection 15 of the upper end of the leg, whereby the latter is securely locked against lateral movement when it is screwed home. The interlockingconnection formed by the projection 15 of the leg and the circular recess 14 of the base prevents any lateral displacement of the leg and any consequent movement of the screw or threaded shank in the slot or opening 5.

The nut, which is preferably rectangular, is received Within a transverse recess 16 of. a removable key or piece 17, which is arranged within the groove or space 11 of the base 3 and which extends entirely across the groove. In assembling the parts the nut-receiving piece or key is inserted in the groove 11 with its recess arranged beneath or opposite the opening 5, at the enlarged portion thereof, in order to receive the nut as the leg is placed in position. After the nut is properly seated in the recess of the key or piece 17 the leg is moved inwardand centered over the base and is screwed tightly against the same. The key or piece 17 is carried inward by the leg 'tion of the screw or'shank.

the outer threadedand is held firmly in position by the engagement of the nut with the outer threaded por- The nut is adapted to be adjusted on portion of the screw or shank, so that the leg may be clamped against the base to the desired degree, and by rotating the nut and screwing it on the outer threaded portion of the screw or shank the clamping action will be increased. As the nut is held between the side walls of the groove of the base and the side walls of the recess of the nut-receiviug key or piece, it will be readily apparent that it is eitectuallyprevented from rotating while the leg is being turned to screw it on or off. Instead of placing the leg in position with the not on the threaded outer portion of the screw or shank the nut may be arranged within the recess of the nut-receiving piece or key, which may be placed in the groove of the base preparatory to applying the le In order to enable the nut-receiving key or piece to be readily centered to arrange the nut-receiving recess centrally, it maybe provided at one end with a stoplS, or the frame 2 may be employed as a stop to be engaged by the other end of the nut-receiving piece or key.

Instead of constructing the base 8 of several blocks or pieces a single block or piece 19 may be used and its ends may be cut 0E square or they may be provided with extensions 20. The base, whether constructed of one or more pieces, may be fastened to the top 1 of atable by screws or any other fastening ,means, such as glue or the like. The block 19 is provided with a groove 21 and it has a central opening 22, but a keyhole-slot or opening may be employed, if desired. The

nut-receiving key or piece 23 may be secured within the groove of a base by a nail 25 or other suitable fastening device, which is passed through the base and embedded in one end of the nut-receiving block or key, as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings. The nut-receiving piece or key may, as illustrated in Fig. 9, be provided with an extension 26, having a perforation 27, adapted for the reception of a fastening device for engaging the top of the table. In Fig. 6 of the drawings is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein the leg 28 is connected with the frame 29 at the outside thereof. In this form of the invention the threaded shank or screw 30 is passed through a perforation of a corner block or base 31, which is provided with a transverse bore or groove receiving a key or piece 32 for holding a nut 33. The nut 3 is engaged by the outer threaded portion of the screw or shank, which passes through the piece or key and through the nut, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

It will be seen that the construction for connecting the log with the top of the table is exccedinglysimplo andinexpensivc in construction, that it is adapted to permit tholcg to be readily detached and replaced, and that it may be screwed tightly home and the nut adjusted without employing a wrench. It will also be apparent that the base against which theleg abuts may be constructed of one or more pieces, that when constructed of several pieces material may be utilized which would otherwise be wasted, and that in all of the forms shown the parts are readily accessible.

' What I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a table-top, of a base provided with an opening and having an interior groove or recess, a nut-receiving key or piece arranged within the groove or recess, a nut arranged in the nut-receiving key or piece and having its edges engaged to hold it against rotation, and a leg provided with a threaded stem extending through the opening of the base and engaging the nut and retaining the same and the said key or piece in place, substantially as described.

2. In a device of thel class described, the

combination with a table-top, of a base provided with a keyhole-slot and having an interior groove or recess communicating with the same, a nut-receiving key or piece arran ed in the groove or recess, a leg having a threa ed stem, and a nut mounted on the threaded stem and adapted to be passed through the keyhole-slot to arrange it within the groove. or recess and on the nut-receiving key or.

piece, substantially as described;

3. In a device combination with a table-top, of a base having a keyhole-slot and provided with a circnlar recess, said base being also provided with a groove, a nut-receiving key or piece arranged within the groove a nut mounted on the key or piece and engaged by the same and by the walls of the said groove, and a leg having a threaded stem en gaging the nut, said.

leg being also provided with a circular projection to tit in the circular recess, substantially as described.

4. In a device of-thc class described, the combination with a table-top, of a base composed of two blocks or pieces spaced apart to provide an interior groove or recess, and a plate or piece mounted on the blocks or pieces and provided with; an opening, a nut-receiving key or piece arranged within the groove 0r recess, a nut arranged in the nut-receiving key or piece and having its edges engaged to hold it against rotation, and a leg provided with a threaded stein extending through the opening of the base and engaging the nut and retaining the same and the key or piece in place, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atlixcd my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL MA LCOLM SM Y'll I.

Witnesses:

lluxuv HARDY, ln xcl m (3. Ross.

of the class described, the' 

